Bay Sports Wood Look Original Series
- Written by Staff
- Published in Reviews
- Comments::DISQUS_COMMENTS
Only best products in a given category receive “A” grade.
Overview:
Paddle Board Highlights
Who is it for?
If you’re on the market for an affordable, inflatable touring paddle board that comes in a complete package, the Bay Sports Wood Look Original Series is one to take into consideration. At $649, the Wood Look sits just above the low price tier and is best-suited for touring paddling but does well for all around paddling too . At 32 inches wide, the board is very stable and user-friendly to all paddlers, no matter age, skill, or size. It is also fairly lightweight, weighing only 20 lbs making nice and easy to carry. The Wood Look does include everything you need to get on the water right out of the gate including a paddle, leash, fin and the board itself also has a solid amount of add on’s that you’ll typically see come with other touring paddle boards.
First Impressions
Updated for 2022, the Bay Sports Wood Look Original Series definitely got an upgrade. The graphics stayed the same here and kept the basic yet sleek wood graphics but here’s what’s new: there is an additional bungee cord attachment on the tail and the cords are upgraded and feature grips that can be used as handles that are great for kids who want to tag along for the ride and want to hold onto something. You’ll also notice more D-ring attachments on the deck that allow for countless attachment opportunities. Another new feature for the 2022 edition is a multi use action mount with an adapter where you can put a camera or a GoPro.
As with the older version, the board is incredibly solid when inflated to the recommended PSI of 15. The board comes with a great fin and a nice bag making the overall package a good value. The graphics on the board give it a nice wood look and the fin system has two built-in rubber fins with the 3rd center fin being a toolless fin system, similar to the FCS II system, making getting your board to the water that much easier. Speaking of getting down to the water, carrying this board was a breeze. It was lightweight and easy which is interesting considering the board can hold up to 396 lbs. Typically, when you have more of a lightweight board it correlates to the durability of the board. Less layers = less durable but in this case the durability of the board didn’t seem compromised. Overall, if you're looking for a board that is affordable and stable that paddles well, the Bay Sports Wood Look Original Series is a good option. It's a good board, great for touring, all around, just a fun day on the bay with friends, you could go long distance if you’d like as well.. Love the rocker, love the stability and love the glide. With these upgrades we’re upgrading this board to an A-grade.
Benefits
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Primary Use
TourPaddle Boards fall into two broad categories, All-Around and Specialty boards, with all-around designed primarily for recreation while speciality boards for top performance in specific disciplines
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Durability
DurableDurability is largely a result of the board construction and shape, with more durable boards typically carrying more materials (added layers, PVC, etc) and as such adding to the weight.
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Stability
StableStability is a product of construction and shape, where boards w/ 30”+ wide and 200+ liters in volume offer plenty of stability for your AVG adult while a board under 26” wide is a challenge.
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Glide
AverageGlide is a result of board shape and construction, w/ boards weighing under 30lbs and designed for racing offering best glide while recreational boards normally being on the slow side.
Learn more on the Bay Sports website.
Features
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Dimensions
11'6" x 32" x 6"Industry standard in board dimensions reads: L (length, from nose to tail) x W (width, from rail to rail at midpoint length), and H (height, from top to bottom of board at midpoint length).
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Weight
20.4 lbsStandup paddle boards tend to fall into 4 different weight classes: extremely lightweight (under 20 lbs), lightweight (20-28 lbs), average weight (28-35 lbs), heavy (above 35 lbs).
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Volume
320 LVolume is a key metric to determine how much weight a board can carry. Boards w/ 200+ liters offer most floatation with boards under 150 liters typically for high-performance surf.
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Capacity
396 lbsCapacity is the max cargo weight a stand up paddle board can carry, considering not only the paddler’s weight but whatever else the paddler may choose to carry alongside him/her.
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Add On's
Multi-use action mount, 4 removable grab handles, Cargo storage, 3 neoprene handles, 18 D rings, Click in 9 touring SUP fin, Bungee Nose, Bungee Tail, Paddle Included, Leash Included, Handle on nose, Handle on tailAdd-on’s include bungee cords, a minimalist way to haul things; connexsup, which allows for all sorts of attachments, even fishing rods; and FCS II/Connect, for easy fin instal.
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Handle
StrapHandles directly affect carrying ease, with external grip handles (Liftsup & EZgrab) offering most comfort, Internal Ergo Grip the mid-tier comfort, and box handles as least comfortable.
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Holders
NoFishing rod holders and/or paddle holders can make paddling that much more pleasant, esp. when needing holders for the rod or having a safe place for the paddle during yoga.
Sizes Available
Length | Width | Thickness | Volume |
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10 Feet 6 Inches | 34 Inches | 6 Inches | 290 L |
11 Feet 6 Inches | 32 Inches | 6 Inches | 320 L |
Previous Models 2021
The overall impression of the Bay Sports Wood Look Original Series was that the board is incredibly solid when inflated to the recommended PSI of 15. The paddle shaft and blade were a bit flimsy but the board comes with a great fin and a nice bag making the overall package a good value. The graphics on the board give it a nice wood look and the fin system has two built-in rubber fins with the 3rd center fin being a toolless fin system, similar to the FCS II system, making getting your board to the water that much easier. Another nice feature was the foam inserts that protect the built-in side bite fins. Typically you’ll see inflatables come with inflatable rings that go around the fins but the foam insert option that’s included in this package seems a bit more premium. Overall, if you're looking for a board that is affordable and stable that paddles well the Bay Sports Wood Look Original Series is a good option. Other than the paddle, it's a good board. Love the rocker, love the stability and love the glide.
Similar Products
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